Haredim Fight Modesty…You Read That Correctly

Last updated on: September 19, 2011 at 10:13 pm by Jeffrey L. Falick

Haredim Fight Modesty…You Read That Correctly 2011-09-19T22:13:00-05:00 Jeffrey L. Falick

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Over the past few years there is a weirder than usual phenomenon that’s been developing in some Israeli Haredi circles. It’s the case of the “Taliban women.”

This is a group of women, not more than a few hundred, who cover up every inch of themselves from head to toe. It’s basically a Jewish burqa, only less Muslim looking. Tellingly, the practice is mostly found among newly-religious women. The trend gained infamy when one prominent “Taliban woman” was convicted of horribly abusing her children and gained the moniker “Taliban Mother.”

Now some Haredi rabbis have had enough. I find it difficult to believe, but for reasons of their own, they’ve started to come out against it. There have been reports in the press that these women, in addition to raising their children in twisted and violent ways, are also denying certain pleasures to their husbands. This inability to control these women might explain why some rabbis are suddenly so concerned with this.

At this time it involves so few women that it can hardly be a cause for panic. But it is interesting to note that it is a practice that is encouraged solely by women and that it is associated with child abuse. What internalized self-hatred could lead to something like this? It would take a team of psychologists working on them full time to untwist it all.

Blog Entries

Haredim

Israel

Previous Post

September 19, 2011

Pat Robertson Doesn't Want Any Guilt Trips

Next Post

September 20, 2011 Unemployed? It's All Part Of God's Plan For You

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Entries

Select a Month January 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 December 2014 February 2014 December 2013 October 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 September 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 100 Psalm 1 Psalm 117 Psalm 150